Pacific Bell conducted a trial of The Coordinator, a tool for computer-supported cooperative work. The trial group had diverse job functions and was dispersed across a variety of geographical locations and computing environments. The trial attempted to both measure the effectiveness of The Coordinator as a communications tool and to evaluate the speech act communications paradigm on which it is based. Only the first of these two goals was realized. Changes in subjects' cognition were assessed using a series of semantic differential scales. One negative cognitive shift was supported by the data. However, the anecdotal evidence was far more negative, suggesting that the experimental methodology be enhanced to include measurement of affective dimensions of group dynamics. Implementation and support for cooperative work systems were found to be more difficult than anticipated. The test group was not convinced that The Coordinator offered functionality that was worth the effort involved in learning to use the product. An improved interface, more flexible terminology, and better implementation support is needed for successful installation of The Coordinator, or similar products.

Despite the advantages associated with computer-mediated communication technologies, many people do not use such systems even when they are readily available. Efforts to identify the variables which mediate the relationship between the introduction of such technologies and their use have only recently become the focal point of systematic investigation. This paper explores the effects of three categories of predictor variables on the usage of a voice store and forward communication system. The variables include the individuals' attitudes toward the technology, their prior experiences with the voice message system, and the nature of their communication pattern. Data for this analysis were obtained from a mailed survey (N=279, response rate=78 per cent) of employees who were listed as subscribers of the company's voice mail (i.e., VOX). Regression analyses indicate that the strongest predictor of VOX usage was the respondent's attitude toward the system. Length of prior experience was also positively associated with the extent of current usage. Respondents, however, were less likely to use the system when communicating with subordinates. Implications for the design and implementation of computer-mediated communication channels are discussed.